Apple's Australian stores will now fix faulty iPhones, iPads and Macs under warranty if they were purchased in the past two years - but don't expect the company's staff to tell you about it.

For some time Apple's standard 12-month warranty has appeared to conflict with Australian consumer law, which provides statutory warranties for a “reasonable” period of time, undermining Apple's ability to charge hundreds of dollars for AppleCare support plans that include extended warranties, as well as other services like telephone support.

On Friday, Apple's Australian retail store staff and authorised Apple resellers were notified about a change to Apple's internal policy on how it handled standard warranty claims.

Until now, many Apple consumers have reported on forums that store staff have only ever discussed with them a standard 12-month manufacturer warranty when selling, fixing or replacing Apple goods.
Advertisement

Apple has now changed this from 12 months to 24, which appears to bring it in line with Australian Consumer Law. [...]

Since January 1, 2011, when a new national Australian Consumer Law came into force, a statutory warranty for a “reasonable” period of time has existed for goods sold in Australia, even if the manufacturer's voluntary warranty (usually set at 12 months) has expired.

What equates to a “reasonable” period of time is undefined in the legislation, but an example given by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its warranties and refunds guide suggests that, for a product such as an expensive television, it can be up to 24 months.

I wonder if this will extend to e-ink e-readers, as well as tablets, in Australia? Know your consumer rights!

I assume that price adjustments will be made to reflect this new value.

My understanding is that the ACCC has a close and wary eye on Apple's pricing at the moment, after various bingles over the past year or two. I think they'd be pushing it to suddenly jack Aussie prices up at this time.

My understanding is that the ACCC has a close and wary eye on Apple's pricing at the moment, after various bingles over the past year or two. I think they'd be pushing it to suddenly jack Aussie prices up at this time.

I think this is marketing strategies of Apple, to capture Global market

No it's not, it's a EU wide regulation... and it's not really a customer friendly warranty because after six months it requires the buyer to prove that the defective part was prone to defect from the beginning... and this does not involve the manufacturer but the seller of the product...
So, at least in Europe, Apple devices still come with 1 year manufacturer warranty...

Not really. Thats why the ACCC had Apple and Adobe (and some other companies) on the mat, explaining why they behave the way they do. In Australia we get totally done over, with prices. For example, our dollar has been well above parity with the US dollar for a very long time, and yet we still pay a premium for goods from Apple (even taking into account that our GST is quoted in the online price and in the US, tax can't be included because of State differences) Adobe is actually a lot worse, they excuse ripping off the Australian purchasing public by saying they have to make a different website. oh diddums.